Monday, April 18, 2011
Posted: 11:18 a.m.Updated: 11:46 a.m.
By Tim Panaccio and Sarah BaickerCSNPhilly.com
BUFFALONot only is there a new starter in the Flyers goal for Game 3 Monday night, but a new backup as well.
Brian Boucher will start his first playoff game this spring and Michael Leighton will back up. Peter Laviolette confirmed Boucher, but he would not address Leighton, nor would he allow his goalies to speak to the media.
We know its Leighton because he and Boucher have full lockers, while Sergei Bobrovsky does not. He has a tiny little stall that cant fit equipment.
Boosh will start in net, Laviolette said. Not company, my policy. Thats what Ive done all year. Ive announced the starter. Its Boosh.
Why Boucher?
Brian came in last couple of times and has done a really nice job for us in there, Laviolette said. Hes on top of his game and in charge of his net. He bailed us out of a couple of situations and I really feel he deserves to go in there and play.
NHL
Leighton played one game with the Flyers this season because of recurring back trouble. He was with the club at seasons end as a healthy scratch.
Where are Carter and Richards?
This is something you dont see very often in a playoff series: Jeff Carter and Mike Richards piling up a bunch of zeroes.
As in: no goals, no assists, no points and just 12 shots between them.
Thats how its been for two of the Flyers elite forwards as they prepare for Game 3 of this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Monday night at HSBC Arena.
Carter led the Flyers this season with 36 goals and 335 shots. He was also first in game-winning goals (7) and tied in power-play goals (8).
If Carter is frustrated or upset, he doesnt appear so. In fact, he seems pretty calm. Hes had some pretty good looks at Sabres goalie Ryan Miller through two games.
Obviously, its frustrating, he said. I think my role on the team somewhat is to put the puck in the net. Ive had a couple chances here and there throughout the first two games. I need to start bearing down here and get them in the net and help this team out.
Richards often says the best way to snap a slump, besides just shooting more, is get a hit, take a hit.
I think you should be ready right off the bat, Carter said. You come out to a crowd like we had the last two games, I dont think you need anything more than that to get yourself going.
You know its going to be physical. Youre going to be giving out hits and taking them.
Carter admits he feels comfortable playing on the road where the Flyers set a franchise record with 25 wins this season.
I really dont know why, he said. We get away and we just kinda relax. When youre on the road, theres not much to worry about except going out and playing hockey. For whatever reason, we seem to play our best hockey on the road this season.
He also likes playing in Buffalo.
Theyve got great fans, he said. Every game we play there, its sold out, its loud. My first year, we played there in the playoffs and it was a pretty good atmosphere. I expect nothing less.
Holmgren denies report
General manager Paul Holmgren denied a report on NBC10 in Philly saying that Chris Prongers setback last month was actually a second break to his right hand.
Apparently, people can throw anything they want at the wall and see if it sticks, Holmgren said. Thats all I can say about that.
Obviously, he is not coming along as fast as people thought after the initial injury happened. It is what it is. When he feels like he can play, hell play.
Holmgren did not bite on whether Pronger will play in this series, but Pronger took part in the morning skate, and did take wrist shots and participate in normal drills alongside his teammates -- his first full practice in more than a month.
"He moved the puck around, he was involved in our drills," coach Peter Laviolette said. "That's the first time that he's been out there with us."
Andreas Nodl will not play tonight. He will miss Game 3 with a right eye injury.
Gonna be loud
Scott Hartnell expects the emotion in HSBC Arena to be every bit as intense as it was over the weekend at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.
Its a mindset to go into other teams' barns, play hard and take the crowd out of it, he said. And definitely, the first 10 minutes here, just like in Philly, its going to be bananas, especially, with the physical game. Them getting hits. Its going to be loud, so we have to take the crowd out of it."
Easier said than done. How do you do it?
Score, Hartnell said with a laugh. Get an early goal and maybe the boo birds will be coming out, too. Im sure when Danny Briere touches the puck, well hear a few of that, too. It should be fun.
The Kappy plan
Injured forward Derek Roy, who has yet to appear in the series, skated on defense on Monday for Buffalo.
Shades of Ken Hitchcock putting Sami Kapanen back there in the 2004 playoffs.
We pulled out of the old Flyer playbook, quipped coach Lindy Ruff.
The identity
Everyone looks for identity in the playoffs. Ruff said he wasnt sure if there was a defined identity for either team through two games, though.
I cant tell you where it is, Ruff said. You can get tighter, you can get open. Theres a lot of rebels on both teams. Theres a lot of characters. I dont think one team is going to be mundane.
Or one team is going to be strictly one way. Theres a looseness that both teams bring. Were gonna see that. Game could be like Game 1 or Game 2 or somewhere in between. Obviously, what happens inside moments.
When you get momentum in the game you have to take advantage of it. Theyre a little bit of a quick strike team. They can grab a couple in two minutes. Theyre that good and have that good of skill.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
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